Farm gate



N. T. MaCKENZIE FARM GATE April 4, 1944. y

Filed Aug.. 17, 1942 2 'Sheets-Sheet 1 n Il ` April 4, 1944. N. T. MacKENzlE FARM GATE' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1942- /Mj @a 5W j W l Patented Apr. 4, 1944 FARM GATE Neal T. MacKenzie, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to General Timber Service, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application Augustin 1942, serial No. 455,092

(cl. 2st- 26) 4 Claims.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved and novel gate oi the long rail type commonly used on farms.

A particular object is to provide novel and readily operable means for changing the elevation of the latch ends of such gates to compensate for sagging and for sloping ground.

Gates of this general character, dueto their great horizontal extent `(ordinarily from l to 16 feet), are diicult to maintain at the proper elevation at their latch or free ends. Neither the hinge supports nor gates themselves are sufciently rigid as ordinarily constructed to retain the free ends in proper, substantially horizontal position for long. The present invention affords an unusually strong gate combined with readily operable means for adjusting the elevation of the free end of the gate.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved gate;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;-

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. `1 and on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a part vertical section and part elevation showing one form of my adjusting device and the adjacent members;

. Fig, 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a part vertical section and part side elevation showing an alternate form of my adjusting device and hinge;.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of thev portion of the gate and post shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 3 8 oi Fig. 6.

The principal members forming my improved gate comprise a series of spaced parallel rails 9 connected by stiles l0, I I and I2 and a pair of diagonal brace members I3, all constructed from wood. The ends of the rails 9 are connect'ed to the stiles by pivot pins I4 and I5 and the stiles are formed with mortises or recesses to receive the rails. The center stile I I has mortises extending horizontally therethrough to receive the rails which are severally joined to the stile by the pins I5. Nails or bolts may be substituted for the wooden dowel pins shown.

Extending diagonally in parallel relation to each other from the lower end of the stile I2 to the upper end portion of the stile I0, the braces I3 are fastened to the stile I2 by a pin I6 and to the stile I0 by a pin I'l. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pin II is adjustable in a slot I3 formed in the stile I0, this slot extending longitudinally of the brace members. The pin il may be constructed from wood and held in place by wedge shaped keys I9 fitting in slots extending through the pin adjacent to the outer faces oi the respective brace members I3. The position of the pin I 'I in the slot I8 may be adjusted by inserting one or more shims 23 between the pin and an end of the slot.

Hinges of conventional type may be used for supporting the gate or the'hinges may be constructed from hard wood, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, or from metal, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 similar wood members 2l and 22 are formed to embrace the stile lll and to be secured thereto by suitable bolts or nails such as the bolts 23 and the nails 24 and a bearing for a hinge pin 25 is also .formed in the members 2l and" 22. To support the gate a post 2t has its lower end anchored in the ground in conventional manner and a vertical bar 21 is spaced from the post by a member Z8 and formed at its end with the hinge pins 25, one projecting up and the other down. The free end of the gate is provided with a suitable latch 29 which is mounted on the stile I 2 and arranged to engage a post 3D. A stop member 3i projects from the post 30 for engagement with one side of the gate. The latch member 253 comprises a horizontally extending bar formed with an elongated slot 32 through which spaced bolts 33 extend to rconi-lne the latch on the gate and permit the necessary sliding movement to and from a recess in the post 30.

The alternate form of adjusting device shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 comprises a metal pin 3ll` which is movable in an elongated slot 35 similar to the slot I8. A bolt 36 extends at right angles to the pin 34 and is threaded in a cross bore formed in the latter. The head of the bolt 36 is accessible from the outer edge of the stile l0, where a suitable washer is interposed between this head and the stile. The ends of the pin 34 project through holes in the braces I3 respectively and are threaded to receive nuts for fastening the braces to the stile I0. By turning the bolt 36 the position of the pin 34 in the slot 35 may be adjusted to thereby raise or lower the stile I2 relative to the stile I0. The braces I3 are fastened to the center stile II by a bolt |511l which projects from slots I3a formed in the braces, these slots being elongated longitudinally of the braces so that limited longitudinal movement of the braces relative to the stile I I is allowed. n

Various types of metal hinges may be substituted for the wooden hinges shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, one metal substitute being illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. As here shown, each hinge comprises a cap screw 31 adapted to project from the post 26 and formed with an upturned end 28 constituting a hinge pin. Hinge plates 39 are bolted to the stile Ill and formed with bearings for the pins 38.

To adjust the elevation of the free or latch end of the gate with the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it is only necessary to remove one of the wedge keys I9 and to spring the end of the brace I3 free of the pin I1 while the latch end of the gate is raised and one or more of the shims 2Il are insertedin (or removed from) the slot I8 thus bringing the free end of the gate to the proper elevation, Thereafter the brace member I3 is returned toengagement with the end of the pin II and the key I9 is replaced to make the fastening.

With the form of my invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it is only necessary to turn the head of the bolt 36 t0 move the bolt 34 in the appropriate direction to either decrease or increase the effective length of the braces I3 and thereby either raise or lower the free end of the gate. The several rails t loosely enough in the mortised stile recesses to allow this movement and the several pivotal connections between the rails 9 and the stiles I0, I I and I2 and the sliding connection of the bolt |50, in the slots I3a permit the necessary change in hte relative positions of the several members.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A gate comprising substantially parallel vertically spaced rails, stiles for connecting the rails, connections between each rail and said stiles permitting changes in the elevation of one stile relative to another, a diagonal brace comprising a wood member of substantial width extending from the lower end portion of one of said stiles to an upper end portion of another stile, at least one of the stiles being formed with an elongated slot to receive a pin for fastening the brace thereto, a pin extending at a right angle to the gate in said slot for connecting the brace to the stile, said brace member concealing said slot and having a flat surface of substantial area abutting against a face of the stile, means engaging said pin to conne said brace member against the face of said stile and means for retaining said pin in various positions in said slot to adjust the angle of the gate relative to the horizontal.

2. A gate comprising substantially parallel, vertically spaced rails, stiles for connecting the rails, pivotal connections between each rail and said stiles permitting changes in the elevation of one stile relative to another, a diagonal brace extending from the lower end portion of one of said stiles to an upper end portion of another stile, at least one of the Stiles being formed with an elongated slot to receive a pin for fastening the brace thereto, a pin extending at a right angle to the gate in said slot for connecting the brace to the stile, said brace being perforated laterally to receive said pin and threaded means engaging said pin and stile for retaining said pin in various positions in said slot to adjust the angle of the gate relative to the horizontal.

3. A gate comprising, substantially parallel, vertically spaced rails, stiles for connecting opposite ends of the rails respectively, opposite vertical edges of the stiles being formed with recesses to receive the ends of the rails respectively, connections between the ends of each rail and the stiles permitting changes in the elevation of one stile relative to the other, diagonal braces comprising wide wood members extending in parallel relation to each other from the lower end portion of one of said stiles to an upper end portion of the other stile, said members overlapping opposite faces of one of said stiles and means connecting opposite end portions of the braces to the stiles respectively, at least one of said connecting means comprising a pin extending at a right angle to the gate through the overlapping portions of said brace members and movable longitudinally of the braces in a slot formed in the stile between the braces, said slot being elongated longitudinally of said brace and means for fastening said pin in various positions in the slot to adjust the angle of the gate relative to the horizontal,

4. A gate having in combination a plurality oi rails connected by stiles, the several connections permitting limited pivotal movement of the rails relative to the stiles, a pair of braces extending obliquely across the rails and upon opposite outer surfaces of the stiles and means for changing the effective lengths of said braces to adjust the elevation of one of said stiles relative to another comprising a pin extending at a right angle to the gate through both braces and through a slot formed in the stile between the braces, said slot being elongated longitudinally of the braces, means for fastening said pin in various positions in the slot and a removable detent for conning at least one of the braces in engagement with said pin, said brace being adapted to be sprung free of the pin to allow access to'said slot.

NEAL T. MAcKENzI'E. 

